Trap-door for railway-car platforms.



R. T. AXE.

TRAP DOOR FOR RAILWAY OAR PLATFORMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911.

1,094,385, Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WlTNESSES: IN VENTOR %JRNEY S 1 R. T. AXE.

TRAP DOOR FOR RAILWAY'GAR' PLATFORMS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911.

1,094,385, Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

WITNESSES: y lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS lll ll ll I STES PATENT FFEE.

ROY T. AXE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YGRK, ASSIGNOR TO OLIVER M. EDVABDS, 0F

\ SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TRAP-DOOR FOR RAIL'WAY-CAR PLATFORMS.

noaasss.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. .21, 1914.

Application filed May 29, 1911. Serial No. 630,029.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY T. Axn, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondagaand State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Trap-Door for Railway-Car Platforms, f which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to trap doors for railway car platforms, including a door portion or member which is extended laterally, or endwise, beyond the side line of the car to bridge the space between the car and a station platform, flush, or substantially flush, with the car platform, and the invention consists in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a railway car platform provided with one form of my invention, contiguous parts of the car being also shown. Fig. 2 illustrates, in elevation, the trap door portion or member and contiguous 'parts when the door portion is in its raised position, that is, its position occupied when the steps located beneath the platform, are uncovered. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view on line A A, Fig. 1.

This trap door for railway cars comprises particularly efficient and simple means whereby the door portion or member is hinged and is guided and shifted in a direction parallel to the axis of its hinge.

1 is the plat-form of a railway car; 2 the frame of the contiguous portion of the car; and 3 the hand rail usually mounted on the platform. Preferably, the trap door comprises a hinged support including a main body in the form of a barrel l, here shown as mounted on the frame 2 and journaled in suitable brackets, or bearing members, 5 fixed to such frame, the barrel 4t inclosing a torsion spring 6 of any desirable construction for raising the door portion from the position occupied in Fig. 1 to that assumed in Fi 2. Said spring 6 is fixed atone end to an adjusting plug 17 in the outer bracket, or bearing member, 5, and is connected at its other end to the barrel 4. near the opposite or inner bracket, or bearing member, 5.

7 is the door portion or member carried by the hinged support and shiftable in a di rection lengthwise of the axis of said support so that its outer edge or end will proect laterally beyond the side of the car, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of my in venticn, the main body, or barrel, 4 is proyided with bracket members 8 located near its opposite ends and fixed thereto, each member 8 being formed with a channel 9 facing laterally in order to receive and guide the hinged side of the door portion 7 The upper walls of the channels 9 slidably engage the upper surface of the hinged side of the door portion 7 and said door port-ion is mounted on leaves 10 extending crosswise thereof beneath the same and having corresponding ends pivoted, respectively, by pins 11 to the members 8 beneath the upper walls of the channels 9, and preferably to the lower walls of said channels, and their free ends pivoted by pins 12 to the door portion near the free side thereof, said pivotal pins 11 and 12, and the axes thereof, extending substantially parallel to each other and cross-wise of the axis of the barrel 4, and the opposing surfaces of the lower walls of the channels 9 and the leaves 10 being substantially parallel to a line extending radially from the axis of the hinged support.

To those skilled in the art, it will be understood that the door portion 7 is connected to the members 8 by the leaves 10, so as to turn with the hinged support including the members 8, and is guided by said leaves and members in a movement lengthwise of the axis of the hinged support, and that said door portion when rocking on the axis of the hinged support, moves slightly toward and from said axis, and when moving lat erally, slides a limited distance relatively to the leaves 10. The channels 9, and particularly the upper walls thereof, not only assist in guiding the door portion 7 in its lateral, or endwise, movement relatively to the leaves 10, but also hold the hinged side or edge of the door portion 7 from movement in one direction at right angles to the walls of the channels 9. The opposite faces of the lower walls of the channels preferably cooperate with upper and lower ears 18 on the leaves 10, said upper ears being interposed between the door portion 7 and the lower walls of the channels 9.

In the illustrated embodiment of my in vention, the trap door 7 is designed to be normally in its out of service position, that p is, the position illustrated in Fig. 2, and to be shifted laterally, or endwise, when moved into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and means is prov'ded for shifting the door portion laterally, or endwise, during the movement of the trap door about the axis of its hinged support. Said shifting means is here shown as a link 13 pivoted by universal joints, as ball and socket joints 14 and 15 at its opposite ends, respectively, to the lower surface of the door portion 7 between the axis of the barrel i and the free side of the door, and to the platform frame 2 of the car at a point eccentric to, and directly below, the axis of the barrel 4, so that the link extends obliquely to the door portion 7. On'e of the sockets for the ball and socket joints is carried by the inner bracket or bearing member 0. Owing to its arrangement, the link 18 causes the door portion 7 to be moved outward, or endwise, during the movement of said door portion from vertical to horizontal position, and to be moved in the reverse direction during the movement of the door portion from horizontal to vertical posi tion. The spring 6 is tensioned during the downward movement of the door, the latch 16 holds the door in its horizontal position against the action of the spring, and when the latch is disengaged from the door portion, the spring raises the door and holds it in elevated position.

To those skilled in the art, it will be understood that the means included in my present invention for hinging the door portion and guiding the same in its shifting movement lengthwise of the axis of the hinging means is not necessarily used only in connection with the link 13, but that other means for shifting the door portion endwise during the hinging movement thereof may be substituted for the link 13, and that, if desired, said link may be entirely dispensed with, and the door portion moved endwise by hand.

What I claim, is

1. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support, a door portion, and means connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of the support, said support including projecting means fixed relatively to the main body thereof and slidably engaging the door portion, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a trap door for railway car plat forms, a hinged support having a projecting shoulder, a door portion having the upper surface of its hinged side slidably engaging said shoulder, and means connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

, 3. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support having projections arranged one above the other, a door portion slidably engaging one of the projections, and means connecting the door portion to the other of said projections and causing the door portion to turn with the hinged support and permitting the door portion to move relatively to the hinged support lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4-. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support having projections arranged one above the other, a door portion having the upper surface of its hinged side slidably engaging one of the projections, and means beneath the door portion connecting the same to the other of said projections and causing the door portion to turn with the hinged support and permitting the door portion to move relatively to the hinged support lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a trap door f0" railway car platforms, a hinged support having a channel, a door portion having the margin of one side guided in the channel, and means connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support having a channel, a door portion having the margin of one side guided in the channel and slidably engaging one wall of the channel, and means connecting the door portion to the other wall of the channel and causing the door portion to turn with the hinged support and permitting the door portion to move relatively to the hinged support lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a pair of hinged members, a door portion slidably engaging the hinged members, and means connecting the door portion to the hinged members to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of said members, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support comprising a main body and a pair of bracket members fixed 5 thereto, a door portion slidably engaging the bracket members, and means connecting the door portion to the bracket members to turn with the hinged support and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support comprising a main body and a pair of bracket members fixed thereto, a door portion slidably engaging the bracket members, and means movable with the bracket members for moving the door portion with the hinged support, said means being pivotally connected to the bracket members and to the door portion for permitting the door portion to move relatively to the hinged support lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support comprising a main body and a pair of bracket members fixed thereto and each formed with a laterally facing channel, a door portion having the margin of one side arranged in the channels and slidably engaging the upper walls thereof, and means beneath the door portion and movable with said bracket members for moving the door portion with the hinged support, said means being pivotally connected to the lower walls of the channels and to the door portion for permitting the door portion to move relatively to the hinged support lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support, a door portion, means connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of the support, said support including project-ing means fixed relatively to the main body thereof and slidably engaging the door portion, and means for automatically shifting the door portion during the movement thereof about the axis of the hinged support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support comprising a main body and a pair of bracket members fixed thereto and each formed with a laterally facing channel, a door portion having the margin of one side arranged in the channels and slidably engaging the upper walls thereof, means beneath the door portion and movable with said bracket members for movin the door portion with the hinged support, said means being pivotally connected to the lower walls of the channels and to the door portion for permitting the door portion to move relatively to the hinged support lengthwise of the axis of said support, and means for automatically shifting the door portion during the movement thereof about the axis of the hinged support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a pair of bearing members, a hinged support having its ends journaled in the bearing members, a door portion, means connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of said support, and means for automatically shifting the door portion during the movement thereof about the axis of the hinged support, said means including a link having one end supported by one of said bearing members, substantially as and for the purpose described.

l l. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a pair of bearing members, a hinged support having its ends journaled in the bearing members, a door portion, means connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of said support, a pair of sockets mounted respectively on the lower surface of the door por tion between the axis of the hinged support and the free side of the door portion, and on one of the bearing members beneath said axis, and a link having ball shaped ends mounted in the sockets, said link coacting with the sockets for automatically shifting the door portion during the movement thereof about the axis of the hinged support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. In a trap door for railway oar platforms, a hinged support having projections arranged one above the other, a door portion slidably engaging one of the projections, and a leaf beneath the door portion, one end of the leaf being provided with opposing ears coacting with the upper and lower faces of the other of said projections and being pivoted to said projection by means having its pivotal axis extending at an angle to the axis of the hinged support, the other end of the leaf being movably connected to the door portion, said leaf connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the axis of said support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a trap door for railway car platforms, a hinged support comprising a main body and a pair of bracket members fixed thereto and each formed with a laterally facing channel, a door portion having the margin of one side arranged in the channels and slidably engaging the upper walls thereof, leaves beneath the door portion having corresponding ends provided with opposing ears coacting with the upper and lower faces of the lower walls of the channels and being pivoted to said lower walls by means having their pivotal axes extending substantially parallel to each other and crosswise of the axis of the hinged support, the other ends of the leaves being connected to the door portion by pivotal pins substantially parallel to the axes of said pivotal means, said leaves connecting the door portion to the hinged support to turn therewith and to move relatively thereto lengthwise of the testing Witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county axis of said support, and means for autoof Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 10 matically shifting the door portion during 22nd day of May, 1911.

the movement thereof about the axis of the hinged support, substantially as and for the ROY purpose described. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto JAMES PAn'msi-r, signed my name in the presence of two at- CHAS. H. YOUNG.

Uop'ies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

